Affirming Summer Happiness

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.”

— John Lubbock

Affirmation: Today, I will let my summer happiness brighten the days of people around me

How To Do Nothing on Vacation

Ahhh, summer. When you were a kid, summer fun seemed to turn up in the most unexpected ways. Lying in a hammock, giggling as a ladybug tickled your arm. Practicing cartwheels until you were dizzy. Catching fireflies in a jar. Listening to cicadas sing you to sleep.

Now you’re all grown up, and a single empty day rarely stretches before you, let alone a week with no work and no plans. So what would be the value to taking a Do Nothing Vacation? It’s a chance to be thoroughly present in the moment. To reflect on what gives meaning and purpose to your life. An opportunity to find joy in the little things.

A Do Nothing Vacation starts with 3 easy steps:

Banish the To Do list.

Turn off your cell, and power down your computer.

Let your mind wander. What would you like to do today?

Gather seashells — open your eyes to what’s right in front of you.

Take a walk, and stop to pet each dog that passes you. Dance to the very first song that plays on the radio. Stroll through a farmer’s market, and smell everything from flowers to melons. God is in the details.

Go fly a kite — do something that you haven’t done since you were a kid.

Skip stones on a pond. Walk to a playground, and see how high you can swing. Bounce a ball against the wall. There is joy in simplicity.

See a penny, pick it up — embrace good fortune when it finds you.

Strike up a conversation with someone on a park bench. Stop and listen to the school marching band practicing. Enjoy the beauty of a rainbow after a summer storm. Serendipity is a blessing.

A Do Nothing vacation may seem like a luxury, but it is a luxury we need to afford ourselves every now and then. It’s a chance to stop, breathe, and appreciate the journey we are on, how far we have come, and all the positives we have to look forward to.

For many who have experienced the 21-day healthy lifestyle program at Optimum Health Institute, summer is the perfect time to share your happiness with others just as you share the milestones on your journey to optimum physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

The joyful act of sharing happiness gets the spiritual green light from God. Proverbs 17:22 tells us “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” So open your cheerful heart, and share that “good medicine” with others. Let your summer happiness brighten the days of people around you all year long. There are blessings in every seasons of the year, of course. But it’s interesting to remember that even the progression of seasons is a gift from God. That’s something God wanted Moses to remember after the devastation of the flood in Genesis 8:22, “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” As you enjoy the bounty of fruits and grains this season, remember this key promise from God.

This summer, take a moment to honor your own progress on your spiritual path. Life is a journey, not a destination. Be grateful that you have been given the gift of carefree summer days to reflect upon your life, your choices, and your future. Know that no matter what fork in the road you choose to take, you have the support and love of a God-centered community lining that road, and cheering you on to find the lesson in every choice.